"We're knowing instead of hoping"

Ranching in south-eastern, Ekalaka Montana, Ryan Bruski and his family manage 3,500 to 4,500 yearlings each summer. After shifting from a traditional cow-calf model to a custom grazing operation, F&R Ranch has adopted regenerative practices and practical innovations to strengthen their operation. Smart solutions like the Auto Weigher help them improve productivity and build a more resilient future for the ranch.

Before the Auto Weigher, one of the biggest challenges for Ryan and his team was forward contracting with their stockers. Ryan shares, “Missing target weights is a big deal when you're running that many head. To check weights, we had to bring cattle in, move them through corrals, line up help, and manage the logistics. Not only was that difficult, but we were also losing weight on cattle during the process.”

That all changed in April 2025. When they first heard about Auto Weigher, Ryan knew it would be a good fit for their operation and moved quickly to secure a unit for their operation. At the time, cattle were grazing across long 100-acre strips with herds ranging from 600 to 1,500 head. Designed to move easily with his rotational grazing setup, the Auto Weigher system quickly became a key tool in managing multiple herds. Using dried molasses and salt to encourage participation, his team was able to weigh a strong percentage of cattle within three days, and by the fifth day, they had a clear representation of the entire herd.

“Every morning, I can log in and see what the cattle have done,” Ryan explains. “It’s easy to move from one group to the next and have up-to-date data the next day.”

The unit’s portability also impressed him. It can be set up or taken down in 30 seconds and moved behind a four-wheeler, side-by-side, or pickup. Ryan jokes that his eight-year-old daughter could almost hook it up herself. For a fast-moving operation like his, that flexibility made all the difference.

The impact has gone beyond efficiency. Crew morale improved, stress levels dropped, and contracts are now met with confidence. “If I had one sentence to describe the Auto Weigher, it would be this: we’re knowing instead of hoping,” Ryan says.

Key to the successful adoption was the partnership with Michele Marcoux, his Area Sales Manager. Michele’s guidance ensured the system fit seamlessly into the Bruski Ranch workflow and supported Ryan in translating the data captured into actionable insights.

Ryan’s experience shows how the Auto Weigher, combined with expert Gallagher support, can transform operations. It simplifies decision-making, strengthens customer confidence, and gives ranches the clarity and control they need to meet targets consistently. For the Bruski Ranch, it has changed the way they manage cattle and how they approach every contract.